Thursday, 11 February 2010

about being a Quaker...

Before the New Year our Hearts and Minds group met. The final activity of that particular session was where we were each asked to write on pieces of paper terms or phrases that for us encapsulated – in some way – what we felt and/or had learned about being a Quaker. Several of the group are members of the Society of Friends; others are more or less long term attenders. We have all agreed to share this list of understandings as perhaps a window into further reflections about being a Quaker.

Equality

About compassion and listening

Being open and honest (or trying to be)

Committing to the practice of being silent together

Being someone who isn’t afraid of silence

Peace

Possibility

Developing my voice

Being part of a group where everyone’s voice can be heard

Respecting and honouring others

Finding something beyond ‘thought’

Not stealing post-it notes from work – thinking about what I do in the world

Living according to my values and questioning and affirming my values

Having a place to be

Listening deeply

God – living life

God – forgiveness acceptance

Questions and learning

Having somewhere to go and something to do on Sunday morning without having to think about it each time!

Thinking

Something greater than me

Supportive environment for trying to live a positive purposeful life where beliefs, ideals and actions are linked

Doing and being with integrity

Making time/space to let a voice inside be heard – to listen to ‘that of God within me’ and to have this approach to others

Connections with my family

Shaking/stirring the pot and letting it settle

Engagement and ethics

Connectedness with history

Important values, together, peace, equality, simplicity? consensus

Acceptance – non-judging

I love the uncertainty of not knowing where a Meeting for Worship is going to go

The children – and offering them this…

Exploring

Shared and equal responsibility for the voice within us and the community as a whole

6 comments:

Thanks for sharing a the results of a beautiful activity. It was good to read and caused me to pause and reflect on it today. That acceptance-nonjudgement characteristic reminds me of the importance of creating communities both in the physical world and online where we create a space where the soul feels safe. I appreciate Friends for teaching me the importance of trusting enough to be a part of that.